§ MR. KNIGHTLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, If he has any objection to submit to Her Majesty whether it would not be desirable to make some alterations in the dress at present worn by deputy-lieutenants, and to point out the incongruous nature of the costume? Very few persons had availed themselves of it at the opening of the International Exhibition. The tight coatee, the gigantic epaulet, and the stiff collar, had been abolished in the army, and he did not see why deputy-lieutenants should be required to wear all those disfigurements, with the addition of a cocked hat with a parti-coloured plume. There was a suspicion that the dress was somewhat ridiculous—there could be no doubt that it was very uncomfortable. He would recommend the adoption of the tunic as more sightly and convenient. Perhaps the only argument in favour of the retention of the existing suit was that some gentlemen might not like the expense of new uniforms
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, he begged leave, in reply to the question of the hon. Member for Norfolk (Mr. Bentinck), to explain that, according to the information he had received, the fort which was to be built at Plymouth would be erected upon 1484 a rock, and not upon an artificial foundation. It would be placed close behind the centre of the breakwater, in such a situation that no vessels, except those of the smallest draught of water would think of anchoring near it. The site of the fort was carefully considered by the Defence Commission before it was decided upon. The only alternative was to build it on the breakwater, and the Commissioners considered the site in question the better one in all respects; first, because the breakwater, not being built of solid stone, would not afford a solid foundation; and, secondly, that it was so low that in order to render the guns of the fort effective in all weathers, it would be necessary to build it up to a considerable height above the breakwater, which would have occasioned extra expense. The guns of the fort would be able to fire either in one direction or the other. Under all the circumstances, considering that the Report of the Defence Commissioners might be expected in a fortnight, and that works could not be suspended without a sacrifice of money, and without inflicting hardship upon the contractor and the workmen whom he had employed—he was informed at Portsmouth the other day, that in consequence of the suspension of the works at Spit-head, the contractor for those forts had discharged two hundred men whom he had collected together—it did not appear to him to be desirable to suspend the construction of the fort.
In answer to the question put to him by the hon. Member for Northamptonshire (Mr. Knightley), he could only say that he did not think there was any reasonable objection to the existing uniform of the deputy-lieutenants. These things were all matters of taste, and for his own part, he preferred the old uniform of the army to the new one. No doubt the tunic was better adapted to the exigencies of service than was the coatee, but it Certainly did not look so well at a drawing-room or a levee. In addition to that, many gentlemen who had got uniforms would object to being called upon to change them, and it would not be convenient to have two different uniforms for gentlemen who purchased their coats at different times. For these reasons he was not disposed to recommend any change.